Means for supporting frames or bodies of vehicles.



N0. 6%,299. Patented Jan. 2, I900.

- B. L. MEBKEL. MEANS FOR SUPPORTING FRAMES 0R BODIES 0F VEHICLES.

(Application filed May 8, 1899.)

(No Model.)

Jam-W94 rare lJlZIAItLES L. MERKEL, OF lVIILl/VAUKEE, WISCONSIN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent at. 640,299, dated January2, 1900.

Application filed May 8, 1899- fierlal No. 715,922. (No model.)

To (oZZ whom may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES Llhlnaxnn, of Milwaukee, in the county ofMilwaukee and State of INisconsin, have invented anew and usefulImprovement in Means for Supporting the Frames or Bodies of Vehicles, ofwhich the following is a description, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, which are a part of this specification.

My invention has relation to improvements in means for supporting theframes orbodies of vehicles.

The primary object had in view is to provide an improved means forpreventing or deadening vibrations or shocks caused by obstacles in orunevenness of the road-bed.

With the above primary object in view the invention consists of thedevices and parts or their equivalents, as hereinafter more fully setforth.

In the accompanying drawings,l igure 1 represents a side elevation of avehicle equipped with my improvements. Fig. 2 is a front end view ofFig. 1. Fig. 3 is a rear end View of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a sectional viewthrough the pneumatic cushion and related parts,and Fig. 5 is a detailplan view of the lower portion of the frame orsaddle of the pneumaticcushion.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 6 indicates the body of anordinary form of vehicle; 7, the wheels thereof; 8, the front axle, and9 the rear axle.

Extending across the front portion of the vehicle below the body thereofis a tube 10, which is provided with an ordinary form of air-valvemechanism 11, adapted for connection thereto of an air-pump. This tubeis bent downwardly at opposite ends to form downwardly extending tubularbranching arms 12 12. A similar transverse tube 13 is provided at therear of the vehicle, and this tube is likewise bent downwardly atopposite ends to form downwardly-extending branching arms 11 141-. Thetube 13 is also provided with an ordinary form of airvalve mechanism 15.

At the lower ends of the downwardly-extending tubular arms 12 12 and 1411a are frames or saddles. Each frame orsaddle and its coacting parts aresimilarly formed, and hence a description of one of said frames andsaddles and related parts will suffice for all. Each frame or saddle ispreferably composed of ,two sections, the upper section being indicatedby the numeral 16 and the lower section by the numeral 17. The uppersection of each frame is integral with or rigidly connected to the endof its downwardly-extending tubular arm. The two sections of the framemay be connected together in any desirable manner, although I prefer toemploy the means illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein theupper section is shown as provided at its lower end withlaterallyextending lugs 18 18 and the upper end of the lower sectionwith corresponding lugs 19 19, which register with and fit the lugs 18,the sets of lugs being secured together by means of screw-bolts 20 20. Ialso prefer to provide the upper section with interior shoulders 21 21and the lower section with similar shoulders 22 22, said shouldersfitting together, and thereby effecting a tight joint. The oppositesides of the two sections of each frame or saddle are cut out to formopenings in order to secure as much .lightness as possible.

WVhile I prefer to provide a frame composed of two sections, as abovedescribed and as shown in the accompanying drawings, yet I do not Wishto be understood as limiting myself to that particular construction,inasmuch as the frame may be made in one part Without departing from thespirit and scope of my invention. Projecting downwardly from the lowerend of the lower section 17 is an extension 23, having an opening in itslower end and also provided on its sides with elongated openings.WVithin the extension 23 is an arm 24:, said arm extending upwardly andloosely through an opening in the bottom of the lower section 17 of theframe or saddle and also extending downwardly and loosely through theopening in the lower end of the extension 23. The ends of each axle passthrough the elongated openings in the sides of the extensions 23 andalso through the openings in the arms 2%. Nuts 25 may be turned onthreaded portions of the axle against the outer sides of the extensionThe arm 24 is provided at its upper end with a stirrup or plate 26.Located in each frame or saddle and resting upon the stirrup or plate 26is an air-cushion 27, advisably of rubber or like material. Each cushionhas a tube 28 extending from its upper end and each tube is preferablyof metal and threaded ion, and thereby prevents the tube from drop pinginto the cushion.

It is obvious that-when a pump is applied to the valve mechanism ofeither the front tube 10 or the rear tube 13 and said pump operated airwill be forced through the transverse tube and into the cushions,whereby said cushions will be simultaneously inflated and caused topress firmly against the stirrups 26.

In the illustration of my invention I have omitted to show the ordinarysprings which usually support the wagon or vehicle body. My inventionmakes it possible to dispense entirely with such springs; but it willlbeunderstood that, if preferred, said springs may be employed inconnection with my supporting mechanism and desirable results obtained.

In the drawings I have shown the front and rear wheels provided with theordinary flat bands or non-elastic tires. It is obvious that when theair-cushions are inflated in the manner previously pointed out all thedesirable features of pneumatic tires are secured owing to theresiliency and give alforded by said aircushions. If preferred, however,vehicles provided with my improvements may have the wheels thereofequipped with cushiontires, and in such case the very best results ineasy and smooth riding are obtained.

It is obvious that with my improved construction in case any obstructionis passed over in the roadway a give is necessarily proviiied, whichrelieves the vehicle of all jar and jo t.

While in the drawings I have shown the valve mechanism as applied to thefront and rear transverse tubes which lead to the frames or saddles, sothat when a pump is connected to the valve mechanism both air-cushionsat particular formation, inasmuch as the frames or saddles may be ofany'other desirable and convenient shape-as, for instance, ofcylindrical form.

It will be seen that the upper sections 16 of the saddles are formed orprovided with inwardly-extending arms 32. These arms form a support forthe body or frame of the vehicle, and said body or frame may be eitherconnected directly to said arms orthe bolsters of the body or frame maybe connected thereto.

What I claim as my invention is- 1. The combination, of a vehicle bodyor frame, the wheels, and axles therefor, saddles supporting the body orframe, transverse tubes at the front and rear of thevehicle, stirrupsmounted on the axle, inflatable cushions interposed between the stirrupsand the saddles, respectively, and with which cush ions the transversetubes are connected, and means for supplying an inflating agent to thetransverse tubes, and into the inflatable cushions.

2. The combination, of a vehicle body or frame, the wheels, and axlestherefor, saddles supporting the body or frame, transverse tubes at thefront and rear of the vehicle, stirrups mounted on the axle, inflatablecushions interposed between the stirrups and the saddles, respectively,and tubes connected at their upper ends with the ends of the transversetubes, and having their lower ends passing through the inflatablecushions, said lower ends of the tubes provided with enlargementsbearing against the inner sides of the tubes of the cushions.

3. The combination, of a vehicle body or frame, the wheels, and axlestherefor, saddles supporting the body or frame, transverse tubes at thefront and rear of the vehicle, stirrups mounted on the axle, inflatablecushions interposed between the stirrups and the saddles, plates at theends of the transverse tubes, tubesconnected at their upper ends to saidplates, and having their lower ends pass in g through the inflatablecushions, said lower ends of the tubes provided with enlargementsbearing against the inner sides of the tops of the cushions, and nutsturning on the last referred-to tubes, and interposed between the platesand the outer sides of the tops of the cushions. v 4. The combination,of a vehicle body or frame, the wheels, and axles therefor, saddlessupporting the body or frame, each saddle provided with adownwardly-extending slotted extension, arms extending verticallythrough the downward extensions of the saddles, and to which arms theends of the axles are connected, said ends of the axles passing throughthe slots of the downward extensions, stirrups mounted on the arms, andflexible cushions interposed between the saddles and the stirrups,respectively.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES L. MERKEL.

